Withdrawing a pair of blanks simultaneously from a hopper

ABSTRACT

For withdrawing a pair of blanks from a hopper simultaneously, a feeder blank is disposed within the hopper adjacent the outlet part thereof and is constructed and arranged in face contacting relationship with a companion blank in such manner that movable suction means is afforded access to an area of the companion blank so that withdrawing movement of the suction means imparts withdrawing movement to both the feeder blank and the companion blank simultaneously by a single withdrawal stroke of the suction means. Both blanks are adapted for movement in a direction different from the direction of withdrawal movement of the blanks as by means of a pair of feeder chains. Stabilizing tabs are formed along the end portions of the feeder blank adjacent the trailing edge thereof to insure proper engagement of the feeder blank by the feeder chains.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,817,442

Leys et al. June 18, 1974 [54] WITHDRAWING A PAIR OF BLANKS 2,600,927 6/1952 Scoville 206/57 R SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM A HOPPER 2,774,475 12/ i956 Morken 229/40 UX 3,260,359 7/1966 Willhite 229/87 R X [7 n n M rm L y l r yklaan; 3,451,611 6/1969 Adams, Jr 229/87 R Jacobus A. Van Den Houte,

Saksenwelmaflaan, both of Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Netherlands Attorney, Agent, or FirmWalter M. Rodgers [73] Assignee: The Mead Corporation, Dayton,

Ohio [57] ABSTRACT 2 Filed; Oct 12 1971 For withdrawing a pair of blanks from a hopper simultaneously, a feeder blank is disposed within the hop- PP N05 188,513 per adjacent the outlet part thereof and is constructed Rehted s A fi fi Data and arranged in face contacting relationship with a [63] Continuation of Ser. NO. 883,387, Dec, 9, 1969, compamo blmk much manner that movable tion means is afforded access to an area of the comabandoned.

pamon blank so that withdrawing movement of the 52 US. Cl 229/40, 206/430, 229/87 R, Suction means imparts withdrawinimovement 282/22 Rim/8.5 Dim/85 SS the feeder blank and the'compan1on blank simulta- 51 Int. (:1. .jjfffjjfisd 65/00,!365d 75/38 neously by a Single 0f the [58] Field of Search 229/40 87 206/57 means. Both blanks are adapted for movement in a di- 2 35 13,85 232/22 rection different from the direction of withdrawal I movement of the blanks as'by means of a pair of [56] References Cited feeder chains. Stabilizing tabs are formed along the end portions of the feeder blank adjacent the trailing UNITED STATES PATENTS edge thereof to insure proper engagement of the 2,080,092 5/1937 lhilippi 206/57 R feeder blank by the feeder Chains 2,122,637 7/l938 Colburn 206/57 R UX 2,496,336 2/1950 Cupo 229/37 R 1 Claim, 7 Drawlng Flgures 45 350 40- 33 34 K rii h le/O 1g PATEN'IEDJUI 16 m4 SHEET 1 [1F 2 mm wT mm q v i? INVENTORS MARINUS LEYS JACOBUS A. VAN DEN HOUTE ATTORNEY PATENTEDJHI 18 um SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

INVENTORS MARINUS LEYS JACOBUS A. VAN DEN HOUTE ATTORNEY WITHDRAWING A PAIR OF BLANKS SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM A HOPPER This application is a continuation of US. Pat. application SCI-Nb. 883,387 filed Dec. 9, 1969 and now abandoned.

In article carriers of the type wherein a blank is wrapped around a group of articles to be packaged and secured at its ends so as to hold the articles within the wrapper, it is sometimes desirable to include within the package thus formed a supplementary blank such for example as might be used in connection with a special commercial promotion or otherwise. If such a supplementary blank were added to the package by manual means, the time consumed and the resulting cost of such an operation ordinarily would be proibitive.

According to this invention, a supplementary blank, referred to herein as a feeder blank, is disposed adjacent the outlet part of a hopper and the main blank herein called a companion blank is disposed in face contacting relationship with and behind the feeder blank. According to a feature of the invention, the two blanks are arranged with respect to each other in such manner that movable suction feeder means is adapted so as efiectively to establish a low pressure region adjacent areas of the companion blank or, if desired, against certain areas of both blanks whereby both blanks are withdrawn from the hopper simultaneously as a result of a single withdrawing movement of the suction means. In order to render the smaller feeder blank adaptable for simultaneous feeding by feeder means used to impart movement to the companion blank after withdrawal from the hopper, stabilizing tabs are formed at the end edges of the feeder blank and adjacent the trailing edges of both blanks so as to insure simultaneous and uniform handling of both blanks during the performance of subsequent packaging operations wherein both blanks are formed about a group of articles to be packaged.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a high speed packaging machine with which the blank feeding means of this invention may be applied; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the so-called companion blank which is withdrawn simultaneously from a hopper along with a feeder blank shown in plan in FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a completed packaged formed by the machine depicted in FIG. 1 and utilizing the blanks depictedin FIGS. 2 and 3; FIG. 5 is a plan composite view showing the feeder blank of FIG. 3 superimposed on the companion blank of FIG. 2 in the manner in which the blanks are stacked within a hopper for subsequent use in the packaging machine shownin FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line designated 6-6 in FIG. 4 and in which FIG. 7 is a view taken generally along the line designated 7-7 in FIG. 1 and showing certain cutaway areas of pairs of blanks each comprising a feeder blank and a companion blank.

With reference to FIG. I the numeral 1 designates the transverse frame structure supported on vertical pedestals designated by the numerals 2, '3, 4 and 5. It will be understood that the pedestals 2-5 are mounted at their lower ends on a suitable base structure not shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of blanks of the type shown .inFIGS. 2 and 3 are arranged in pairs and stacked in asuitable hopper designated generally by the numeral 6. The blanks are collectively designated 'by the numeral 7. Primary packages such asbottles B in FIG. I are introduced on a continuous conveyor or otherwise to the left hand end of the machine and proceed toward the right to the formation of a completed package such asis depicted in FIG. 4. During movement through the machine the primary packages B are arranged in a series of groups designated in FIG. 1 at B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8 and B9.

For the purposes of moving the bottle groups such as Bl-B9 from left to right, an endless conveyor 8 'is mounted in known manner on rotatable elements 9, I0, 11 and 12 which are supported on suitable shafts mounted to the frame of the machine in known manner. Secured to the conveyor 8 is a series of plungers or flight bars designated by the numeral 13. As is apparent from FIG. 1, each plunger 13 engages a package group and imparts movement thereto toward the right,

it being apparent that the conveyor 8 and the rotatable elements on which the conveyor is mounted and which are designated by numerals 9-12 all rotate in a-clockwise direction.

Since it is the purpose of this invention to provide for the simultaneous withdrawal of a feeder blank such as is designated at F in FIG. 3 and a companion blank such as is designated at C in FIG. 2, these blanks are stacked in pairs in the hopper 6 with the feeder blank disposed adjacent the lower outlet part of the hopper.

Thus as is apparent from FIG. 1, a conventional suction feeder means generally designated by the numeral 14 is arranged to reciprocate about the pivot 15 so as to engage and withdraw a pair of blanks simultaneously from the hopper 6. The suction means generally designated at 14 can constitute any suitable suction cup device of known construction.

According to this invention, the feeder blank such as is designated at F in FIG. 3 is constructed and arranged with respect to the companion blank C in FIG. 2 so that a low pressure area is established adjacent a part of the companion blank. Thus withdrawal movement of the suction cup causes both the blanks C and F to be withdrawn simultaneously. In the specific embodiment of the invention as represented by FIG. 3, a pair of cut away areas or apertures designated by the numerals 16 and 17 are formed within the feeder blank F. Thus as is apparent from FIG. 5, suction cups which are arranged to engage the feeder blank F in generally coincidental relationship to the aperture 16 and theaperture 17 establish low pressure areas on those portions of the companion blank which are uncovered by the cut away areas l6 and17. Thus suction pressure is established on the companion blank which is effective to cause both of the blanks to be withdrawn as the suction cup means performs a withdrawing operation.

The companion blank of FIG. 2 is of conventional construction and comprises a top panel 18 in which a plurality of apertures 19, 20 and 21 are formed. These apertures 19, 20 and 21 simply receive the necks of the bottles to be packaged within the companion wrapper C. A side wall 22 is foldably joined along fold line 23 to an edge of top panel 18 and a similar side wall 24 is foldably joinedalong fold line 25 to an edge of top panel 18. A conventional tear strip designated by the numeral 26 may be formed in the wrapper, if desired. A viewing window 27 and'a similar viewing window 28 may be incorporated in the side walls 22 and 23 if desired. I

- The bottom of the companion wrapper is a composite structure comprising a lap panel 29 foldably joined along line 30 to an edge of side wall 22 and cooperating lap panel 31 which is foldably joined to the bottom edge of side wall 24 along fold line 32. When the carton is assembled, lap panel 31 is secured to lap panel 29 by any suitable means. For example, lap panel 29 may be provided with tightening apertures 33, 34 formed in lap panel 29 and similar tightening apertures 35, may be formed in lap panel 31. Thus machine elements entering the tightening apertures 33-35 operate in opposition to each other so as to tighten the wrapper about a group of articles. The panel 31 is then secured underneath the panel 29 by driving the locking tabs 36 and 37 formed in lap panel 31 through the apertures defined by retaining tabs 38 and 39 formed in lap panel 29. Of course the lap panels 29 and 31 may be secured together by any other suitable means such as glue if desired.

Since the feeder blank F is disposed below the companion blank C in the hopper and since the blanks are drawn downwardly atop an article group made up of bottles B, the feeder blank F is disposed inside the companion blank C when the package is completed. Feeder blank F is not secured about the package group but is held in place according to this invention by a pair of stabilizing tabs designated for example by the numerals 40 and 41. These stabilizing tabs form extensions of the side edges 42 and 43 of the blank F and are disposed as continuations of the trailing or end edge 44 of blank F. Thus as is apparent from FIG. 5, the tabs 40 and 41 extend to the adjacent side edge portions 45 and 46 of the companion blank C. Stabilizing tabs 40 and 41 are simply foldably joined along fold lines 47 and 48 respectively to the side walls 49 and 50 of the feeder blank F. Side walls 49 and 50 are foldably joined along fold lines 51 and 52 to the top panel 53 in the feeder blank in which bottle receiving openings 54, 55 and 56 are formed. A viewing window 28A is formed in side wall 50 and generally coincides with the viewing window 28 formed in companion blank C. Thus with the blanks F and C assembled as depicted in FIG. 5, a withdrawal action by the suction means 14 causes the two blanks to be assembled atop a group of bottles B disposed immediately below the outlet part of the hopper C. After the blanks are released by the suction cup means they are moved toward the right by a pair of side by side feeder chains 57 only one of which can be seen in FIG. 1. A plurality of feeder hooks 58 are mounted on the chains 57; Chains 57 are rotatable in a clockwise direction and are mounted on sprockets 59, 60, 61 and 62 which are rotatably supported by the frame structure in known manner. Thus the two chains designated by the numeral 57 and their associated hooks 58 are arranged so that the hooks engage the trailing or end edge 44 and the associated trailing or end edge 44A of companion blank C. Due to the stabilizing tabs 40 and 41 there is no possibility that a particular feeder hook such as 58 may slip around the edge such as 42 or 43 of the feeder blank F.

After the feeder blanks are disposed as shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the bottle groups B1, B2, B3 and B4, the sides of the companion blanks and the associated side walls of the feeder blank F are simultaneously folded downwardly by suitable plows or guides designated in FIG. 1 by the numeral 63 in known fashion. Thereafter the packages are moved from the position depicted at B6 through that depicted at B7, B8 and B9 by an endless conveyor designated by the numeral 64 on which flight bars 64a are mounted. Endless conveyor 64 is rotatable in a clockwise direction and is mounted on suitable sprockets 65, 66, 67 and 68. The bottom panels 29 and 31 are secured together by suitable structure shown in dotted lines and generally designated by the numeral 69.

In order to convey the article group such as B4 from the position of that group to the position designated B6, i.e., during the downward folding of the side panels, a supplementary conveyor generally designated by the numeral 70 mounted on sprockets 71 and 72 is utilized. This conveyor 70 is specially constructed so as not to interfere with the downward folding of the side walls such as 22 and 24 of the companion blank C and such as 49 and 50 of the feeder blank F by means of the plows such as 63.

For the purpose of insuring proper alignment of the feeder blank F with respect to the companion blank C while the blanks are stacked within the hopper 6, an alignment notch 73 is formed along the trailing or end edge 44 of the feeder blank F. Received within this notch 73 is a guide rod 74 formed integrally with the hopper structure 6 as is best shown in FIG. 7. Thus the feeder blank is maintained in its proper orientation within the hopper 6 and relative to the companion blank C as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 7. Of course the companion blank C is held within the hopper by the side bars of the hopper in conventional fashion because these bars are adjusted so as to fit the general outline of the transverse dimensions of the blank C.

While a principal purpose of the stabilizing tabs 40 and 41 is to insure that the hooks 58 engage the trailing or end edge 44 of blank F in the proper manner, another purpose of stabilizing tabs 41 and 42 is to stabilize the blank after the package is formed. Thus as best shown in FIG. 6 the stabilizing tabs 40 and 41 occupy positions underneath the bottom of bottle B at one end of the wrapper. Thus the feeder blank F is held securely within the finished package by the stabilizing tabs 40 and 41 as well as by the openings 54, 55 and 56 which receive the necks of the packaged bottles B.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A composite wrapper structure comprising a flat feeder blank of generally rectangular configuration with spaced side and end edges and having at least one cutaway area, and a separate flat companion blank of generally rectangular configuration with side and end edges and disposed in flat face contacting relation to said feeder blank in general coincidence therewith and at least partially covering said cutaway area in said feeder blank, one transverse dimensions of said feeder blank between its end edges being substantially equal to the corresponding dimension of said companion blank and other transverse dimension of said feeder blank between its side edges and which dimension is generally disposed in a direction normal to said one transverse dimension thereof being substantially less than the correspnonding dimension of said companion blank, and a pair of stabilizing tabs formed along the side edges of said feeder blank respectively and disposed adjacent one end edge thereof.

* I I l 

1. A composite wrapper structure comprising a flat feeder blank of generally rectangular configuration with spaced side and end edges and having at least one cutaway area, and a separate flat companion blank of generally rectangular configuration with side and end edges and disposed in flat face contacting relation to said feeder blank in general coincidence therewith and at least partially covering said cutaway area in said feeder blank, one transverse dimensions of said feeder blank between its end edges being substantially equal to the corresponding dimension of said companion blank and other transverse dimension of said feeder blank between its side edges and which dimension is generally disposed in a direction normal to said one transverse dimension thereof being substantially less than the correspnonding dimension of said companion blank, and a pair of stabilizing tabs formed along the side edges of said feeder blank respectively and disposed adjacent one end edge thereof. 